Letter-box.



Pawn/fed Feb. n, |902. No. 692,852.

H. HETTINGER.

LETTER BOX.

(Application 61nd Jaxx. 81, 1901.)

(No Model.)

. l 'rl-4s norms PETERS C0. PHOTO-Umb WASH Nevron D c NITED STATES APninnrr OFFICE.

HENRY IIE'ITINGIJR, or AURORA, ILLINOIS.

LETTER-BOX.

' SPECIFICATION forming part ofkLetters Patent No. 692,852, dated February .11, I92.

Application' inea Jmmy 31,1901. serial No. 45.500. (No model.)

f of Illinois,have invented certain new and use` ful Improvements in Letter-Boxes; and. I do hereby declare that thefollowing is afull, clear,'and exact descriptionthereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in

which is shown in perspective a view of a let- A ter-'box embodying my invention.

The object of my invention is to provide' aletter-box which is especially adaptedfor use as a` house letter-box, although capable of other uses, such box havingconvenient,

efficient, and noiseless means for holding ob-V jects such aslet-ters,`papers, and packages; and to such ends my invention consists in the letter-box hereinafter specified.

In carrying my invention into practiceI provide a box A of any desired construction. Such box preferably has a top B, that inclines from the rear to the fronti. A door C, preferably hinged at its bottom, affords access to the interior of the box. The door has its edges rounded by turning over a narrow strip c along each edge, so that the hands will not be cut. If desired, the edges of the opening in the box can be protectedl in a manner simi-l lar to those of the door. An openin g D, guarded as by a lattice or glass, is provided in t-he lower portion of the front of the box, so that the interior thereof can be seen.

Lugs E and E are formed on or secured to the upper rear corners of the box. A rod F is supported by the lugs E and E andvis secured thereto, as by having its ends passed through openings therein and headed over. A spring-clip Gis mounted on the rod F. Such clip consists of a central loop g, having a handle g' projecting from its front portion and having its rear ends connected with coiled springs g2 and g2, that are mounted on the rod G. The ends ot the springs g2 and g2 engage the lugs E and E, Vas by being passed through openings therein and headed down. The springs are so coiled as to tend to press the loop toward the top of the box.V A plate His formed on or secured to the top of the box in a substantially vertical-position, and such plate has a slot 7L in the line of movement of the handle and which normally receives the handle. In the lower portion of the slot a cushion, preferably of rubber,.is secured, as by forming such cushion oa block I, that is wider than the slot, and providing slits t' andl Il in Jthe sides of the block, in which slits the v edges of the plate-at the sides of the slot are received.-

. When-it is desired to insert van object beneath the spring-clip,the latter is raised by Vmeans of the handle, and the object is inserted either laterally or from the front. releasing the handle the `object *willbe' securely held from escape by the spring-clip, inl

on the cushion, and the unpleasant sound of a blow on the hollow box is avoided.

Changes can be made in the construction illustrated that are within the scope of my invention. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a letter-box, the combination ofa spring-clip attached to the top of the box at or near the back thereof, and a plate projecting upwardly on the forward portion of the said top, said clip projecting forward of the said plate, substantially as and for the purpose described.

. 2. The combination in a letter-box, with a spring-clip attached to the top of the box, of a substantially vertical plateon the said top, such clip having a handle, and said plate having an up\\'ardl5*opening slot in lwhich such handle is normally received, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

3. The combination in a letter-box, with a spring-clip attached to the top of the box, of a substantially vertical plate on the said top,

' such clip having a handle and said plate having an upwardly-opening slot in which such handle is normally received, and a cushion in said slot and beneath such handle, substantially as`and for the purpose described;A

4. The combination in a letter-box, with a spring-clip attached to the top of the box, of a substantially vertical plate on the said top, such clip having a handle, and said plate hav- Upon u ing an upwardly-opening slot in which such have hereunto seb my hand this 13th day of handle is normally received, and a cushion in November, 1900. said slot and beneath such handle said cushv i ion having slits in its sides by which it is en- HENRY HE TINGER' 5 gaged by the edges of the plate, substantially lVitnesses:

as and for Jhe purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I W. II. MOREY, PHIL. LonRMANN. 

